Milling machine



June 28,1938. H. NEUBERT 2,

MILLING mcnirm Filed Feb. 25, 1957 1o Sheets-She et 1 Inventor I Herbert NeUbeH Attorney Jun 28, 1938.

H. NEUBERT MILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 In vontor Herbgrt Neubert Attorney Juneu28,1938. HNEUB RT 2,121,923

1 MILLING MACHINE F iled Feb. 23, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 l'nwmtot Herb eI-i NeubeH by :3

June 28, 1938. H. NEUBERT 1 MILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 19:57 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor: Herbert N eub ert Altorb ey June 28,1938. HfNEUBERT 2,121,923

MILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor.- Herbert 'Neubert Attorney June 28,1938. H.NEUBE RT 2,121,923

MILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1937 1o sheets-sheet s Inventor.- He rbertNcubert Attorney June 28, 1938. H. NEUBERT 2,121,923

MILLING MACHINE File Feb. 23, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 7' Inventor: Herbert Neuberf Attorney Jupe 2 8, 1938; v H. NEUBERT 2 MI'LLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1937 ,10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Fig. .9

Inventor: Herbert Neubert AHoI-hey Jung 28,1938. H. NEUBERT I Q 2 ,923

MILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, '1937 I 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 lnvamfor Herb er! Neube rt Attorney June 28, 1938.

MILLING MACHINE Filed Feb'. 25, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 1o Aftorny H. NEUBERT 2,121,923-

Patented June 28, 1938 UNiTE-D STATES PATENT "OFFICE 2,121,923 MILLING MACHINE Herbert Neubert, Chemnitz, Germany, assignor to J. E. Reinecker Aktiengesellschaft, Chemnitz, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application February 23, 1937, Serial No.-12'7.,141

The invention relates to milling machines and kindred machine tools of the type'having a table,

' which carrieslhe pieceaotwork nnder treatment and is slidably mounted in a supporting frame,

signed, that the table is slowly advanced during the milling operation, and is automatically- 1 stopped at the end of each full. working stroke (see Figs. 8-'-9) by means of trip dogs, adjustably fixed and throwing out of operation a clutch;

disengaging a gear wheel, or dropping a worm or the like,and wherein the table must be man ually restarted for its return stroke, during which the table is rapidly advanced. at a higher rate of 1 speed than before into its initial position, where the table is again automatically stopped.-

There are also milling machines of a so-called semi-automatic type known for instance from Machinerys Encyclopedia 1917 Volume IV page -396, the work table of which can be ygiven by means of trip dogs a variety of cycles of movements:

'The simplest of these is, he one that would be used for milling a number of surfaces with spacesbetween. For an operation of this kind, the machine is set to bring the'work up to the cutter at a rapid rate; the feed then slows down while the surface is being milled, after which it isaccelerated while the cutter is moving across the space to the next piece. The feed is. then reduced again for milling, and this operation is repeateduntil the last surface has been milled.

It is true, that table feeding devices provided with a semi-automatic control and rate change the non-cutting or idle periods and thereby in mechanism ofthe type described greatly reduce crease the production. However it has been found in the course of the .inventors practical'and experimental work, that table feeding devices 6f 7 said semi-automatic design show a serious drawback in as much as the interval of time,'-beg1nn1ng whenever the table has completed its travel at high speed through In Germany June 29, 1935 2 Claims. (cl. sozi) an idle period (see 1 in Fig. l) of its working stroke, and ending when the next following cut ting operation sets in-is often all tooshort, namely'does" not allow the operator to meanwhile perform at ease and with the necessary care and precautions all the requisite, auxiliary operations, including for instance raising or lowering the table with regard to stepped-surfaces (desighated 5 --6 in Fig. 1), or re-adjus'ting the table laterally with regard to surfaces in staggered position to each" other, and including also the directing of the current of lubricating oil orf'cooling liquid at the very last moment possible to the place, where'the next cut out begins in order not to prematurely hide the cutting operation under the current'of liquid, but to enable the operator to visually control'the depth of the cut at its very start.

The principalobject of this invention is to overcome the said drawback inherentt'o milling machines known heretofore by providing the table with a structurally improved feeding device having a rate changer and a switching mechanism, so designed with regard-to idle periods of the working stroke at the table, thatl (1) The :table-instead of automatically changing its rate of speedas known heretofore--namely continuing to 'travel at a reduced rate at the beginning of a fresh cutting period, is automatically stopped just shortly. beforetheQ fresh cut sets in; a

(2) That by simply shifting one and the same control lever fromits position for rapid vtable feed into the next tion the table willlresume its travel in the same direction at reduced. speed for a fresh cutting period, "and (3) That by anotherturn of the same control lever the table feeding device isreset for rapidlyre-turning the table intoits initial position.

Other objects and advantages 'of the invention The nature and scope of tl ie invention are 'briefly outlinedv in the appended claims and will be more fully understood from the following specification taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a millingmachine of the column and knee type, having a'table feeding device and control mechanism re-' designed acgordi'ng to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevationeeparfly in section-of thework table, 'of the saddle, in which the table is slidably mounted, and of the o will become readily apparent hereinafter'to prac- .titioners in this field.

table feeding device, the latter being shown in an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the rate changer of the table feeding deviceshown in a still larger scale;

Figs. 4-11 are schematic lay-outs showing the work table in different characteristic positions, and the corresponding positions of the rate changer, its control mechanism, and of theelectric switching attachment cooperatively connected therewith.

The milling machine shown by way of an example in Fig. 1 is of the conventional column and knee type, comprising a column C formed with vertical guide ways G, G2, on the front face of which a knee K is mounted for vertical adjustment; the knee K supports a saddle I on guide ways for movement toward and from the column C; onthe saddle l the work table 2 is slidably mounted carrying the piece of work 3 and is reciprocated relatively to the revolving cutter 4 by means of the table feeding device re-designed according to this invention and comprising:

(1) An electric three-phase current motor I 2, which is connected with the main lines X; Y,"Z through branch lines it, 1!, z. :c', y, a, triple pole switches operated by electromagnets 5|, BI, and feed lines it, c, w in such manner, that on closing the circuit at 5|, as seen in Fig. 10, the motor l2 will rotate in a certain-say clockwise-direction, indicated by an arrow,'whileon closing the circuit at 6|, the motor will reverse its direction of rotation; V

(2) A screw and nut gear 32, 33, journalled in the saddle I, and engaging the table 2 (Fig. 2);

(3) A rate changer interconnecting the said motor l2 and feed screw 32 (Fig. 3) which comprises: Two pairs of bevel gear wheels I 3-l4, 30-3l, of which wheel 30 is keyed to a rotary shaft l1, while wheel I4 is journalled thereon and secured in its position by a set-collar 25;

An auxiliary shaft H, to which are keyed a gear wheel l8 meshing with a crown of teeth l5,

attached to the hub of wheel l4, and another gear wheel "20, keyed at 2| to shaft l9 and meshing with a crown of .teeth 22, attached to a toothed clutch member 23, which is journalled on shaft l1 and secured in its position by a setcollar 24;

A friction clutch member l6 presenting an internal conical working face being attachedto the hubof the wheel I 4; v

A composite clutch 21 splined at 26 on main shaft I! so as to slide thereon and presenting at one end a crown of teeth 28 and at the other end a conical working face 23 for engagement respectively with the corresponding conical face of the friction clutch member l6, and with the opposed teeth 23 of the clutch member 22.

The resultant ratio of gearing of the gear wheels l5, I8 and 20, 22 is so chosen, that the toothed clutch 23 rotates at a lower rate of speed than the friction clutch l6;

(4) Speed controlling means, which comprise:

A double armed shift lever, fulcrumed at), (Fig. 2) the forked arm 4| of which engages the composite clutch 21, while the other arm fitted with a pin engages'a grooved cam 33, 33 keyed to a rotary shaft 3'! and being. operable by a pair of bevel gear wheels 35, 36 and a hand lever 34; the groove 39 of cam 33 so shaped. that, whenever lever 34 is in any of its outermost positions, indicated at El (left) and Er (right), friction clutch I6, 23 will.be in engagement and .rotate the main shaft l! at high rate of speed (Figs. 6, while, whenever the lever 34 is in its zero position, indicated at I) (Fig. 5), or in the intermediate position Ir (Fig?-9)-.shaft l1 and consequently screw 32 of the table feeding device will rotate at reduced speed;

(5) An electric switching mechanism, which according to this invention is directly associated with the rate changer forcooperation therewith,

namely preferably keyed to cam shaft 31, and

which comprises:

A rotary switch 63 having a steppd contact bridge 64, which is shown in Fig. 4 in its zero position, and which is designed toselectively interconnect in its various .working positions described hereinafter two of the contact brushes, adjacently disposed to each other for cooperation with the contact bridge 64, namely either brushes 42 and 43, as seen'in Figs. 10 and 11, or brushes 45 and 46, as seen in Figs. 5 and 8, or brushes 44 and 45, as seen in Figs. 6 and '1; and:

A system of spring loaded circuit breakers 43, 54, 58, designed for cooperation with the work table 2 through a plurality of trip dogs II), -II of on, and soproportiondfthat tlfebr'oader'trip" dog Ill'on engaging and depressing its mate 9 (Fig. 4) will break an auxiliary circuit 41-43- 49-52-5l-50 at 43, thereby in turn breaking the main circuit at z, y, a:,and by depressing its other mate 8 (Fig. 9) will break two auxiliary circuits simultaneously, namely circuit 53-54- 55-56-62-6l-60 at 54, and circuit 60-5l 58-59-56- -62-4il at 58, thereby in turn breaking the main circuit at 1:, y, z',while the shorter trip dog II on depressing the mate dog 3 (Figs. 7, 8) will break alone at 54 the respective auxiliary circuit indicated.

The operation of the table feed motion shown and described above is'as follows:

Supposing the work table 2, carrying a piece of work 3, of which two surfaces 5; 6-being in stepped and spaced relation to each other by a recess 'I-are to be worked upon by the rotary milling cutter 4, is at rest, namely having-been stopped at the ,end of its return stroke shown in Fig. 11 by the engagement of the dogs 9-); (see also Fig. 4)

In order to start the table 2 for a fresh working stroke in the direction of arrow i, after requisite readjustments, such as raising, cross feeding the table, etc., have been made, the control lever 34 a is shifted into the right hand position Ir (Fig.

5) thereby the clutch 21 is thrown into engage-' motor l2 to rotate in anticlockwise direction, and

to move tl table 2 ahead at low speed for cooperation with the cutter 4 (Fig. 5).

It should be noted, that at any moment during and after therespective cutting operation by'a short turn of the control lever 34 from Ir to II (as seen in Fig. 4)"the auxiliary circuit concerned may be broken at 45-46,-and in turn the main circuit at :c', y, z. whereby the table 2 ceases at once to move.

lever 34, cam 33 and switch 63,- in which the feeding device'is re-set for rapidly moving the table 2 ahead during a period of idly running due to a recessed portion 1 not under the treatment;-

Fig. 6 shows the respective positions of the The conical end 29 of clutch 21 being then in frictional engagement with therapidly driven clutch member I6, and the primary auxiliary cir the contact bridge 64 at 44-45 until being automatically broken at 54 by the engagement of the shorter dog II and its mate '8, whereby the supply of current to the motor l2 and in turn the motion of table. 2 is automatically: stopped, as shown in Fig. '7.

Since the table 2 is at rest at the end of a periodof idly running and must be manually remaking the main circuit at :c', y, z is closed at 45- -46 by'a short turn of lever 34 to the'leftinto the position Ir, and how the clutch 21 is I at reduced speed in the. direction of arrow 1' so started for anew cutting period (Fig. 8), the

operator will always have ample time at his dis-' posal and be perfectly free for making at ease the necessary. re-adjustments and supplying afresh the'cooling liquid, andatthe very latest moment, even if the. idle period, when the table was fed at high rate, had been very short.

Fig. 8 shows, how the aforesaid primary auxiliary circuit, energizing the electromagnet 6i and concurrently. thrown into re-enga'gement' with the toothed clutch member 23 with the result, that the feed motion starts feeding the table 2 as to subject the next following face 6 .of' the piece of work '3 to the milling operation by the cutter 4.

At the end 'of said milling operation the table 2 -is' automatically .stopped by the interengagement 'of the broader dog Band its mate l0, whereby. the aforesaid primary auxiliary circuit is broken at 54 and 58, as seen in Fig. 9.-

.Fig. 10 .shows, how by shifting the control lever 34 to the left into the extreme'position at the left designated Ill, the conical end portion 29 of the clutch 21 is thrown into frictional re- 'engagement with the rapidly revolving clutch member l6, and how the switch 63 is concurrently turned into another 'active position, in I which its contact bridge 64 will close at 42-43 a secondary auxiliary circuit 4i-48- -49'--52-- 5I5fl energizing the electromagnet 5| and in turn making the power circuit at z, y, x.

Thereupon the table 2 will resume its travel in' the direction of arrow i and on completing its return stroke will be automatically stopped by'the interengagement of the dogs 9 andill:

' The secondary auxiliary circuit referred to above -then being broken at 48, and the supply of elecas seen in Fig; 11.

. 1 Various modifications and changes maybe'contrlc current to the motor [2 veniently made in the structural details and in the-assemblage and cooperation of the various component parts of the improved table feeding device for milling machines and kindred 'machine tools, shown and described, without departing from the spirit and the salient ideas ofthis invention:

Instead of 'the mechanically operated cl t h 29, 28 shownanother 'type of positively acting clutches,--for' instance an electromagnetically operated clutch-may be used -to advantage; likewise instead of the friction clutch i5, 29 'having conical engaging surfaces,'- another convenient type of friction clutches may be provided.

Likewise instead of a rate changing mechanism employing toothed gear wheels a hydraulic variable speed power transmission gear employing cylinders and pistons and a liquid workingmedium may be used to advantage; I

Although an alternating current electric m'otor II of the three-phase reversible type as shown has proved to be a very appropriate prime mover for the purpose concerned, namely where electric power is available, said motor may be conveniently replaced under different conditions by another driving attachment or a power transmitter, for instance of the well known hydrodynamic type, involving the flow and: reaction .principle and operated by acur'rent'of oil under pressure or another liquid working medium posi I tively circulated in a closed circuit of pipe lines.-

In this latter case the' rotary switch -63, 5'4 operated by lever .34, and the circuit makers and breakers 48, 5.4, 58 operated by'the' table 2 would a have to be replaced by an analogous switching or distributing device, and a system of valves (not shown), which are cooperatively interconnected with each other, with the table 2 and. the driving attachment through trip dogs or the like and through a system of pipe lines instead of electrio cables.

Hence it should be conclusively noted, that the invention is not restricted to the use of an electric motor, but that also with driving means of another type the problem underlying this inven tion may be satisfactorily solved and carried out in practice, nam'ely'to control the operation-of,

' the table feeding device, including its direction of movement, and'of its rate changing mechanism by one single control lever and in such manner, that by simply shiftinglsaid control lever into the next following working position, the

table after having been automatically stopped at the end -01 an idle period is re-started in the previous direction for a fresh cutting period and at a reduced rate of speed.

The invention is not restricted to the employ ment of a single trip dog H automatically in-' terrupting the travel of the work table 2' at the end of a period of idly running (7) at high speed: Obviously a,-plura1ity of trip dogs' II or equivalent controlling elements may be fixed at the table for cooperationwlth the circuit breaker 54 according to the number of recesses and other spaces in the piece of work, which remain out of treatment.

Selfacting brakes and kindred mechanism,

known per se and not shown, may be conveniently table, a reversible electric motor for operating said feeding device, a rate changing mechanism cooperatively interconnecting the latter and-the said electric motor for alternately feeding the work table at low speed during. cutting periods,

and at a higher rate during idle'periods of its working stroke, electrically operated means for automatically stopping the table at the .endof idle periods of its working stroke, and a single 4 lever control mechanism for jre-starting.there-.

after at the operators discretion the work table in the previous direction for the next following cutting period and at a reduced rate of speed,"

said automatic stopping -n'ieans comprising velectromagnetic switches, for connecting said reversib le electric motor with and disconnecting it from the main power circuit, two auxiliary electric circuits for operating said electromagnetic switches,

trip dogs ad'justably fixed at the work table, and

circuit breakers responsive thereto for making and breaking said auxiliary circuits, said single lever control mechanism comprising a rotary cam shaft cooperatively associated with said rate changing mechanism, and a rotary electric switch for controlling said auxiliary circuits.

2. In a milling machine a reciprocable work table, a feeding device for reciprocating said table, a reversible electric motor for operating said feeding device, a rate changing mechanism cooperatively interconnecting the latter and the said electric motor for alternately feeding the work table at low speed during cutting periods, and at a higher rate during idle periods of its working stroke, electrically operated means for automatically stopping the table at the end of idle periods of its working stroke, and a single lever control mechanism for re-starting thereafter at the operator's discretion the work table in the previous direction for the next following cutting period and at a reduced rate of speed, said automatic stopping means comprising electromagnetic switches for connecting said reversible electric motor with and disconnecting it from the main power circuit, two auxiliary electric circuits for operating said electromagnetic switches, trip dogs adjustably fixed at the work table,-and circuit 

